Extreme Networks Unveils Open SDN Architecture

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In a move that brings two separate networking architectures under one management framework, Extreme Networks at the Interop Spring 2014 conference today announced an open software-defined networking (SDN) architecture.

This comes only a few months after Extreme Networks acquired Enterasys Networks. Mike Leibovitz, director of mobility and applications for Extreme Networks, says an SDN management layer presents Extreme Networks with the opportunity to unify the management of networking gear from both Extreme Networks and Enterasys even though products developed under those respective groups still run different operating systems.

Leibovitz says the company’s SDN architecture is open in that Extreme Networks has published northbound and southbound application programming interfaces (APIs) that any third-party product can plug into.

In addition to the SDN architecture, Extreme Networks released version 6.0 of NetSight management software along with the formal release of its Purview analytics application. The company also unveiled a 100G Ethernet Blade for its BlackDiamond X8 series of switches and IdentiFi 3800 series wireless access points that comply with the 802.11ac standard.

While switches don’t often get upgraded, Leibovitz notes that businesses are now more dependent than ever on delivering digital services over the network. As part of the effort to better manage those service experiences, Leibovitz says organizations of all sizes are increasing both the amount of bandwidth they make available and the overall sophistication of the management frameworks they used to deliver those digital services.

The rate at which organizations are upgrading their networks to deliver those digital experiences will vary greatly. But most organizations are going to find it difficult to stay relevant in the digital age without making such an upgrade.